49ers announce Gore’s deal through 2014; updated with quotes

(Updated at bottom of this file with highlights of Frank Gore’s conference-call quotes from this afternoon)

Nearly 24 hours after Frank Gore stood at his locker and again professed his desire to play only for the 49ers in his career, the franchise officially announced signing him to a three-year contract extension through the 2014 season.

Terms of the deal, as initially reported Tuesday by ProFootballTalk.com, state Gore can earn an additional $21 million with $13.5 million guaranteed, on top of this season’s $4.9 million.

“The collective goal all along was to allow Frank the unique opportunity to play his entire career with the San Francisco 49ers, and we are extremely pleased to have accomplished this,” general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement. “We appreciate the diligent efforts of Drew and Jason Rosenhaus on Frank’s behalf, as they worked closely with Paraag Marathe to make this deal happen. Frank’s love for the Bay Area Community, play on the field and leadership within the locker room are equaled only by his passion for the game.”

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Gore, the third all-time leading rusher in 49ers history, is slated to be on a media conference call at 2:15 p.m. and I will post his comments here later today. (UPDATE: See below for highlights of his call.)

Gore is entering his seventh season, and the thought of putting in a decade with one team has him excited.

“You really never see at my position a running back getting drafted from the team and finishing in hopefully 10 or 11 years with one team,” Gore told 49ers.com “I’ve got a chance to do that and I will do that.

“It’s real good. Now I can just go out there, have fun, get some wins and try to win the (NFC) West.”

Among his achievements (as listed in the 49ers statement) since they selected him in the third round (65th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft:

– A two-time Pro Bowl selection.

– He has played in 84 games (71 starts), registering 1,371 carries for 6,414 yards (4.7 avg.) and 35 touchdowns while adding 270 receptions for 2,283 yards and nine touchdowns.

– A two-time recipient of the 49ers Bill Walsh Award given annually to the team MVP.

– His 6,414 yards rushing rank third in franchise history and his 8,697 yards from scrimmage rank fourth.

– He is the only running back in franchise history to rush for over 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons (2006-09).

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– He holds the franchise record for most 100-yard games (24) and 200-yard games (two).

– He has led the 49ers in rushing every year since 2005, and in 2006, he led the NFC with 1,695 rushing yards.

For more on the 49ers, follow me on Twitter: @CamInman

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Highlights of Gore’s media conference call:

On why he’s so happy to return: “It’s special that the team that drafted me stepped up and showed they want me here for my whole career. … Now I can just get ready forSeattle and take steps each week to win the (NFC) West.”

On what he likes about the 49ers: ”The guys in the locker room. It’s the team that drafted me. Coming out of college, they saw something in me. You rarely see running backs get to finish their career with the team that drafted them. Obviously I’m one of them. Hopefully I can get my name on the wall and break some more records out here.”

On lack of success: “We haven’t had winning seasons and the fans have been 100 percent behind us. We have great fans here. I see what coach Harbaugh and his staff, they’re football guys. I have no doubt we can get it done. I know we have talent in that locker room, probably more than any NFL team. (Note: I listened to audio again and accidentally left out the next sentence.) We probably have more talent than a lot of teams in the NFL. I love my teammates and I feel we can get it done with the talent we have.”

On other running backs who’ve left their original teams: “Like L.T. for example, Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson, and the list goes on. The team stepped up and showed they want me here for at least 10, 11 years of my career. I’m happy about that. Now I can go out and keep giving them my all on Sundays.”

On who he idolized: “I always liked Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith. I like those guys. A lot of guys who watch my style, even when I was coached by Norv Turner, he said I remind him of Emmitt Smith but a little faster than him.”

On playing 10 years and retiring like Sanders: “I wouldn’t say that. If my body is feeling good, I would love to go more, because I love the game of football. I will say I’m happy to be a Niner. They gave me a three-year extension.”

On life after football: “Trent and I joked around about it. He knows how much I love the game of football and how much I pay attention to the other guys. He said I do have a skill to pick talent out. We’ll see. When that time comes, if they want me here to help pick out players, I’ll do it.”

On why he can evaluate players: “I really go off, especially coming from theUniversityof Miami, being around guys like Andre Johnson, Clinton Portis, Willis McGahee. I know they love the game. I love the game. Just pick popel by talking to them and watching them at practice. If shy away from contact or bring it every time.”

On 2005 draft oversight by other teams: “I still carry that chip on my shoulder, seeing guys go before me … I told myself when I come in this league, I’m going to show everybody that they passed up the best back. Look at the career. Look up the numbers. It shows. I do carry that chip on my shoulder and I will continue to carry that on my shoulder.”

On what his first job was: “The first job I held was at a park as a summer-camp counselor for kids, in Coconut Grove (Fla.) before I went to college. I’m happy to be a Niner.”

I am glad he is going to retire as the 49ers all time leading rusher!!! GO 49ERS!!!

KezarFan

We’ll see. It’s great if he stays healthy. If he’s not, that’s a lot of guaranteed money for a guy at an age where running backs can break down, often very quickly.

The new rookie salary cap actually made this deal more palatable; even if they get a top-five draft pick next year (meaning they go 3-13 or something like that), they know their financial exposure is limited.

latopia

Gore: ” I told myself when I come in this league, I’m going to show everybody that they passed up the best back. Look at the career. Look up the numbers. It shows.”

—

Okay Frank.

I looked up the numbers.

Really. No, I mean I REALLY looked up ALL the (general) numbers.

Yes, Gore has the MOST carries of ALL backs drafted in 2005 — and, as a result — the MOST yardage AND the most fumbles (26).

Frank Gore — a legend in his own mind, mindless sycophants, media stenographers.

Dan

No one ever gives Frank the ball at the 1 yard line dude…

darrel

latapia : As of now on what he has done in past games.He is the best player niners have. Dingleberry beat him down with up the middle plays that everybody knew was coming.Everone should be the best at what they are doing. That is what he is trying to do. Montana and Rice are legends. You proably did’t get to see them play as real Niner fans did.

JasonXFlash

Go Frank. Glad to C U a complete Niner. Had just bought your jersey #21 and wore it to the game w/my son also wore jersey #21@ N.O. the first pre-season game.

Go Niners…

robert rowell

#4 i don’t know what frank did to you, but let it go. your selective stats took a look at two NYGiants during the years were they were a winning powerhouse. the 9ers aren’t and haven’t been that. frank’s been very good and his pay reflects that. jeeze. you act like it’s coming out of your pocket, it’s not.